Automated shade control in connection with electrochromic glass

Abstract

Automated shade systems may comprise motorized window coverings, sensors, and controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, information regarding one or more variable characteristics of glass, ASHRAE clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a motor configured to actuate a window covering; 
 a glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; and 
 a central controller configured to control the motor and the glass controller, 
 wherein the central controller utilizes a proactive algorithm, and 
 wherein the proactive algorithm is configured to utilize at least one of lighting information, radiation information, brightness information, or solar heat gain to calculate a total foot-candle load on a structure. 
 
     
     
       2. A system, comprising:
 a motor configured to actuate a window covering; 
 a glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; 
 a central controller configured to control the motor and the glass controller, wherein the central controller utilizes a proactive algorithm; and 
 a motion sensor to detect motion information, wherein the motion information is used to modify the proactive algorithm. 
 
     
     
       3. A system, comprising:
 a motor configured to actuate a window covering; 
 a glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; and 
 a central controller configured to control the motor and the glass controller, wherein the central controller is configured to incorporate a clear sky algorithm. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the clear sky algorithm is an ASHRAE clear sky algorithm. 
     
     
       5. A system, comprising:
 a motor configured to actuate a window covering; 
 a glass controller configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a glass; and 
 a central controller configured to control the motor and the glass controller, wherein the central controller is configured to control the glass controller using shadow information based on at least one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions. 
 
     
     
       6. A method, comprising:
 moving, responsive to at least one of shadow information, brightness information, or reflectance information, a window covering with respect to a window, wherein the window comprises a glass having a variable characteristic; and 
 adjusting, responsive to at least one of shadow information, brightness information, or reflectance information, the variable characteristic of the glass comprising the window. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reflectance information is based on at least one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the shadow information is based on at least one of cityscape conditions or topographical conditions. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing at least one of window covering movement history information or glass characteristic variation history information. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising varying the variable characteristic of the glass while the window covering remains in a set position. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising moving the window covering while the variable characteristic of the glass remains at a set value. 
     
     
       12. A method, comprising:
 communicating, to a first glass controller, a first instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a first glass, wherein the first instruction is generated responsive to at least one of shadow information or reflectance information; and 
 communicating, to a second glass controller, a second instruction configured to adjust a variable characteristic of a second glass, wherein the second instruction is generated responsive to at least one of shadow information or reflectance information. 
 
     
     
       13. A system for controlling daylighting of an interior space, the system comprising:
 a motor configured to actuate a window covering; 
 at least one of a radiometer or a photometer to detect lighting information; and 
 a central controller configured to control the motor in connection with a proactive algorithm incorporating the lighting information, 
 wherein the proactive algorithm incorporates information regarding at least one variable characteristic of a glass associated with the window covering. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the glass is an electrochromic glass. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the central controller uses the proactive algorithm. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the central controller incorporates the proactive algorithm. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the central controller is a centralized control system (CCS). 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the central controller controls the motor via a motor controller. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the central control controls the at least one variable characteristic of the glass via a glass controller.